Circular retractor



Jan. 5, 1932. H. R. ARNOLD 1,839,726

CIRCULAR RETRAGTOR A I Filed Aug. 1, V1930 2 sheets-sheen 1 Inventor llomey Jan. v5, 1932. H, R, ARNOLD 1,839,726

CIRCULAR RETRACTOR Filed Aug. l, 1930 2 4Sheets-Sheet 2 nvenlor 15710567? rvaZcZ By @Maa/i.

A llo-mcy Patented Jan. 5, 1932 HUBERT R. ARNOLD, or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA CIRCULAR B ETRACTOR Application led August 1, 1'93G. Serial' No. 472,390.

This invention relates generally to surgical `appliances for use when operatingupon the abdomen for retracting Vthe walls of the A I abdomen about the vincision and for maintaining the organs in desired position, while operating.

The invention has special relation to devices of this kind employing adjustable l, hooks for engaging and retracting the walls 1G of the abdomenand adjustable means for retaining them in adjustable positions,` and other adjustable means for flexiblyrmaintaining the organs in the `required position, and said hooks and said organ contacting means being formed upon a-frame.

It is the purpose of the invention to provide a device of the character described,

which embodies a circular frame adapted to j bedisposed in any desired angle.

to provide a novel adjustable clamp which is adapted to be mounted upon the individual retractors and mount the same on the frame or stationary part of the retractor. y

f It isv a furtherobjeet of the'inventio'n to provide a novel clamping means which is mounted on the individual retractors to take the place of the commonly employed thumb yscrew clamp means, said clamp means being usually mounted on the frame of the retractor, instead of upon the individualretrac'- tors as provided forl in lthis invention.

These-,and other and further objects,the nature of the invention,` its composition and arrangement and combination of parts, will be clearly understood by anyone acquainted with the art to which this invention relates by referring to the followingv description, and the appended drawings, inwhich: i

Figure 1 is a top'perspective view ofthe assembled device. Y

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the circular retractor frame. Figure 3 is an edge view of Figure 2.`

Figure 4 isa sectional lview on the'line l-i of Figure 1, being a section'ofone of the feet or brace members forl spacing and bracing the double ring of the retractor frame.

f j Figure 5 is a detailed view partly'in sec- It is further an object of the invention] members of the clamping mechanism.

s Figure 11 is another form of the member as shown in Figure 10.

'Figure 12 is a perspective viewy of lthe springmember of the lclamping mechanism.

v1t is tobe understood that I do not limit 'PATENT OFFICE the application of this invention to the par i ticular modification set forth herein in illustration thereof, and any change or changes .may be made of materialor structure consistent withv the lspirit vention. The circular retractor'form comprises a and scope of the in- Vpair of spaced flat bars 5, held in position and spaced by U-shaped brackets 6 bolted at equally spaced intervals to each of the bars on 4the underside thereof. The retractors` comprise bars Z having a downturned finger grip 8 at their outer ends and hooks 9,k 9a and 9b respectively of different formation to be subsequently described. Y

The bars 7 vof the retractor element are `of vflat form and are provided with longitudinal'slots 10. Adapted to frictionallycontact the bottom surfaces of the ring and to l'project up `therebetween in a verticall direction andto be received in the slot 1() of Athe a slot 17 across the top portion of which is arranged a pivot pin 18 -for engagement end formed with a cam head 16 providedwith f as a guide for positioning sai-d retractor mem-V bers on the frame is shown in Figure 10 and Figure 11 and comprises a flat U-shaped construction having tapered ends, and the construction being generally designated by the numeral 21 and the upwardly projecting ends thereof at 22 and the tapered shoulders 23 and provided centrally in the upper portion of the vprojections 22 are square holes 24 for receiving the lateral projections`25 on the spring member 19, to position said spring member in proper relation to the clamp construction.

The type Lshown in Figure 10 differs from that shown in Figure 11 by the addition of longitudinal flanges 26 adapted to form a channel guide which engages over the rings ofthe frame. and prevents undesired lateral movement of some of the retractor elements.

The form shown'in Figure 11 is notprovided with said 'flanges 26 and permits a greater amount of lateral movement for some of the retractor elements;

The retractor elements are adapted'to be drawn inwardly or outwardly from the center ofthecircular ring by means of the slot 10, the vhand gripping the portion 8 for lthat purpose. It is obvious that by turning the handle 15 in tangential relation to the circular ring that the cross-head 12 on the pin 11 may be drawn upwardly through the space between said rings and the retractor element removed and the reverse operation places the crosshead in locking position adapted to be ldrawn up into clamping position by the vertical movement of the lever 15.

Different hooks 9` 9a and 95 are provided at the inner ends of the retractor members,

the type designated 9 being iiat curved pieces vhaving rolled flanges for engaging the walls of the incision, the form 9?) being similar to the form 9 except for the absence of the rolled flanges spoken of, andthe form 9a being of special type construction of three interconnected bars forming a hook having a straight depending kpart and especially a-dapted'to position the organs.

. The form of guide support 21 shown in Figure 11 is used with the type of retractor shown Figure 7 and designated 9a and also withthe type designated 9h to permit a certain amount of lateral movement considered desirable when they are placed to support or retract the organs.

The form of support shown in Figure 11 is preferred to mount the form of hook ydesignated 9 to retain the retractor member against any lateral movement when clamped in position. It is obvious that the spring cla-mp at 19 has the downwardly bent end portion 27 so that the central portion through which the aperture 20 ismade is raised above the ends of said portion 27 to provide the necessary depressible spring action to secure the desired co-operation between the pin 11 and the cam lever 15.

It is thought that the operation and use of the device is obvious, and it will be thoroughly understood that from the foregoing description by anyone familiar with the art to which the invention relates, and it should be stated that the retractor elements are adjustable upon any position around the circular plane, the braces 6 being formed U-shaped, so as not to interfere with the placement of the retractor members at any point about the circumference of the ring, and that any number of the retractor members may be arranged around said circumference, and clamped thereto and that the abdominal wall retractors are provided with mechanism to clamp them in rigid relation to the frame, and that ythe Vorgan retractor elements are clamped in any desired position about the circumference Vof the ring and are permitted a certain amount of lateral movement when clamped in position.y

The form of the hook illustrated at 9b is a wide flat blade of the general configuration `of Figure 7 and it is employed for a similar purpose as the blade .shown in Figure 8 composed of the three interconnected bars' designated 9a.

It will now be understood that I have provided a device of the character described, which embodiesnew principles of arrangement andv construct-ion, and provides new and novel features which enable a superior and a more efficient employment of a device of this kind, which is cheaply constructed, and

which is highly convenient in use, and which contributes materially to the advancement of the art to which the invention relates.

I claim:

A device of the character described comprising a pair of concentric spaced rings having U-shaped spacers attached to the undersides thereof, a plurality of normally radiallyV arranged retractor bars having a finger grip at one end and a retractor hook at the other end, said retractor hook being normally disposed within said pair of concentricrings, said retractor bars being provided with longitudinal slots, and a pin for each retractor bar adapted to pass in succession upwardly between the rings through a clamp slide, slidably engaging the upper surfaces of said pairs of rings and through the slot in said retractors,and through which spring plates on said slide and a Cross head on the lower end of the pin adapted to be frictionally oontacted with the under surfaces of said pair of rings, and a, cam lever mounted on the upper end of the pin to cooperate with said Spring plate to clamp said retraetor bar While in adjusted positions on said pair of rings.

In testimony whereof I aiix my si ature.

HUBERT R. ARNOLD. 

